Print Friendly and PDF
Using science to take action: Rachel Shaffer, Ph.D.

Using science to take action: Rachel Shaffer, Ph.D.

"By assessing the risk of chemicals all around us, I'm working to create a safer world"

1 min read

How did a childhood in Thailand lead Dr. Shaffer to her work in environmental health?



Dr. Shaffer kicks off our series introducing the new cohort of Science Communication Fellows, a partnership with the Science Communication Network to offer an exclusive look at important research just over the horizon that promises to impact our health and the environment.

In this video, Dr. Shaffer traces her journey in the environmental health field, the seeds of which were planted by her family's commitment to "action" in combination with early-life experiences abroad. Dr. Shaffer's passion for diverse topics across environmental health and her interest in translation and policy motivated her to pursue her current position, focused on human health assessment, at the U.S. EPA.

Rachel M. Shaffer, PhD., U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development

Dr. Rachel M. Shaffer works in the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment in the U.S. EPA’s office of Research and Development. Dr. Shaffer has a broad background in environmental health sciences, with graduate training spanning experimental toxicology and human epidemiological research as well as experience in science policy and risk assessment. She has published on diverse topics, including air pollution, glyphosate,ç and food additives. Dr. Shaffer completed her M.P.H and Ph.D. at the University of Washington-Seattle's School of Public Health. She also holds a B.A. in environmental studies from Yale University.

Learn more

Find Dr. Shaffer on Twitter @rshaffer14

Connect with her on LinkedIn

Check out her website and blog.

Explore her research on Google Scholar.

Cutting Edge of Science

Discover what exciting research other early-career scientists are up to in our exclusive series in partnership with the Science Communication Network.

Learn more here.

About the author(s):

EHN Staff

Articles written and posted by staff at Environmental Health News

Become a donor
Today's top news
From our newsroom

LISTEN: Kristina Marusic joins the Out d'Coup podcast to discuss "A New War on Cancer"

"These are not just abstract policy questions or technical data. These are people's lives we're talking about here."

How the “Halliburton Loophole” lets fracking companies pollute water with no oversight

Fracking companies used 282 million pounds of hazardous chemicals that should have been regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act from 2014 to 2021.

LISTEN: Kristina Marusic joins The Allegheny Front to discuss "A New War on Cancer"

"Everyone I spoke with for this book said over and over, this problem is so big, we cannot shop our way out of it."

LISTEN: Denise Moreno Ramírez on protecting workers in auto shops and beauty salons from toxics

“My experience as a young individual in Nogales experiencing that helicopter research, it really made me think about the methodologies we apply.”

Fighting "A New War on Cancer"

Environmental Health Sciences reporter Kristina Marusic's new book on cancer prevention is a story of hope and what we can do to prevent harmful exposures.